Bank Wagering Game

Abstract

System and method are disclosed for conducting a group-wagering game in which players at several gaming terminals may play wagering games and win together. The method and system of the invention involves connecting a bank of gaming terminals to a bank server. The bank server automatically plays a group-wagering game on a periodic basis in which players at the gaming terminals in the bank of gaming terminals may participate. Depending on the outcome of the group-wagering game, eligible players may be awarded prizes outright, or they may be granted a group-bonus game. The prizes and awards won may depend on the amounts wagered at the gaming terminal.

1 - 58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . A gaming system, comprising:
 a plurality of gaming machines each including an electronic display device and one or more electronic input devices; and   one or more controllers configured to:
 detect, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices at each gaming machine, a respective physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance, 
 initiate a respective casino wagering game for play at each gaming machine in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance, 
 determine a respective modifier for each gaming machine based on game-play activity occurring at the respective gaming machine over a plurality of plays of the casino wagering game, 
 initiate a group game incorporating the plurality of gaming machines during the presentation of casino wagering games, 
 provide a respective individual award from the group game to each gaming machine, the respective individual award being based on the respective modifier for each gaming machine, and 
 receive, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices at each gaming machine, a respective cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance. 
   
     
     
         60 . The gaming system of  claim 59 , wherein the one or more controllers include a server. 
     
     
         61 . The gaming system of  claim 60 , wherein the server is located outside the plurality of gaming machines. 
     
     
         62 . The gaming system of  claim 59 , further comprising a signage adapted to display the group game to a plurality of players, at least one of the one or more controllers being connected to, and programmed to control, the signage. 
     
     
         63 . The gaming system of  claim 59 , wherein the game-play activity is a turnover amount greater than a minimum threshold. 
     
     
         64 . The gaming system of  claim 63 , wherein the modifier is determined based on the difference between the turnover amount and the minimum threshold. 
     
     
         65 . The gaming system of  claim 63 , wherein the modifier increases as the difference between the turnover amount and the minimum threshold increases. 
     
     
         66 . The gaming system of  claim 59 , wherein the modifiers determined at at least two eligible gaming machines are not equal, and the individual awards at at least two of the gaming machines are not equal. 
     
     
         67 . The gaming system of  claim 59 , wherein the group game is selected from a group consisting of a communal-type bonus game, a competitive-type bonus game, and a free-spins game. 
     
     
         68 . A method of operating a gaming system, the gaming system including one or more controllers and a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game and configured to participate in a group game, each gaming machine including an electronic display device and one or more electronic input devices, the method comprising:
 detecting, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices at each gaming machine, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;   initiating a respective casino wagering game for play at each gaming machine in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance;   determining a respective modifier for each gaming machine based on game-play activity occurring at the respective gaming machine over a plurality of plays of the casino wagering game;   initiating the group game incorporating the plurality of gaming machines during the presentation of the casino wagering games;   providing a respective individual award from the group game to each gaming machine, the respective individual award being based on the respective modifier for each gaming machine; and   receiving, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices at each gaming machine, a respective cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising initiating the group game at a preset time interval. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising randomly initiating the group game. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the gaming system further includes a signage connected to at least one of the one or more controllers, the method further comprising:
 displaying the group game to a plurality of players on the signage: and   controlling the signage via the at least one of the one or more controllers.   
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising determining the eligible gaming machines before the group game is conducted. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising determining the modifier based on a difference between a turnover amount and a minimum threshold. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 72 , further comprising increasing the modifier as the difference between the turnover amount and the minimum threshold increases. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the modifiers determined at at least two of the gaming machines are not equal, and the individual awards at the at least two of the gaming machines are not equal. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 68 , further comprising selecting the group game from a group consisting of a communal-type bonus game, a competitive-type bonus game, and a free-spins game. 
     
     
         77 . A gaming system, comprising:
 a plurality of gaming machines each including an electronic display device and one or more electronic input devices; and   one or more controllers having a player-eligibility module, a group-bonus-game module, and an award module, the one or more controllers being configured to:
 detect, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices at each gaming machine, a respective physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance, 
 initiate a respective casino wagering game for play at each gaming machine in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance, 
 display, via the group-bonus-game module, the group game on the electronic display device of each gaming machine, 
 determine a respective modifier for each gaming machine based on a turnover amount occurring on the respective gaming machine over a plurality of plays of the casino wagering game, 
 initiate a group game incorporating the plurality of gaming machines during the presentation of the respective casino wagering game, 
 provide a respective individual award from the group game to each gaming machine, the respective individual award being based on the respective modifier for each gaming machine, and 
 receive, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices at each gaming machine, a respective cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance. 
   
     
     
         78 . The gaming system of  claim 77 , wherein the one or more controllers include a server located outside of the plurality of gaming machines.